Emergence of Modernism

 Emergence of Modernism

The Emergence of Modernism was based in the 1900s and lasted until 1950s and developed greatly over this time period. After World War One it was a designer's chance to redesign the world, there were many technological advancements such as: skyscrapers, automobiles, trains, photography, and movie pictures. These advancements added lots of sources to the design inspiration. In this time, they were also concerned with functionalism and what was used to describe the design style. There were many architects that paved the path for Modernism, they were Frank Lloyd Wright, Walter Gropius, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, and Le Corbisier. 

    Frank Lloyd Wright was the first major modern architect, he designed over 1000 structures and completed 532 works in his time. Wright focused on organic architecture and considered the effects on man and the environment. He was big on unity in planning, materials, structure and site. He wanted his architecture to work in its environment and feel cohesive. He had many residential designs that were built and were mostly based in the Mid-West. Wrights' designs had major concepts of incorporating private areas with the public areas of the home. He also designed some commercial designs such as the Unity Temple in Oak Park, IL. This design holds a sanctuary as well as lots of custom lighting in the space. Wright was big on adding in custom furniture and build ins. This way his design was cohesive and had a flow to it.  

    Another one of his commercial works is the Rookery in Chicago, IL. He worked on updating the interior and plan of the light court and lobbies. He was able to find a great balance between Burnham and Root's ironwork in the space and was able to incorporate his own vision. Frank Lloyd Wright also worked on the Larkin Company building in Buffalo, NY. This building was noted for many new innovations of the time, including air-conditioning, stained-glass windows, built-in-desk furniture, and suspended toilet bowls. This design has a very open office layout that is curtail to the function of the building. 

The International Style is a major architectural style that emerged in the 1920s and 1930s. These years were also the formative years of Modern Architecture. This style has three different principles, the expression of volume rather than mass, the emphasis on balance rather than preconceived symmetry, and the expulsion of applied ornament. The International Style was based on simplification of form, and rejection of ornamentation. Walter Gropius was a large part of this style, he used lots of steel, glass and concrete in his designs. Working largely with primary colors and smooth surfaces. He wanted his designs to focus on honest and direct use of materials and a functional design. 

ONE STEP FURTHER 

Mies van der Rohe was a German- American Architect. He was the son of a tradesman and worked as an apprentice to Perter Behrens. Rohe sought to establish a unique design style for the modern era. He valued the concepts of simplicity and clarity with a desire for each structure to appear fameless. Lots of his designs can be explained as "skin and bones" architecture, he was focused on less is more. One of his most famous homes in the United States is the Farnsworth House in Plano, IL. Last semester we did a project on the site of this house. We were given the prompt to design a visitors' center that would also use the pre-existing center that was on the property. I found this project very helpful to find ways to connect to Rohe's design.